Instrument Flight
Flight Procedures
Altitude (at the highest of the following):
1.
Altitude or flight level last assigned
2.
Minimum enroute altitude/flight level for the segment being flown
3.
Altitude ATC says you may expect in a further clearance
As previously mentioned, if a climb is required, commence it as necessary to comply with the minimum
altitude as required in one through three above.
If you lose communications while on a vector off your planned route with no expected further routing,
return to your filed route. If at all possible, do not accept a clearance off your filed route without an
expected further routing.
PROCEEDING DIRECT TO A STATION
There are two ways to fly to a NAVAID--by homing and by proceeding direct. The difference between the
two is that in the presence of a crosswind, a homing aircraft will fly an arcing route (therefore not
maintaining a given course) to the station instead of flying in a straight line (Figure 16).
To proceed direct to a station, first tune and identify the station and then turn the aircraft in the shortest
direction to place the head of the No. 1 (VOR) or No. 2 (TACAN) bearing pointers under the heading index
at the top of the HSI. (If you were to stop at this point and fly to the station, keeping the bearing pointer at
the top of the HSI, you would be homing.) Once the bearing pointer is centered at the top of the HSI,
rotate the course set knob until the CDI is centered with a TO indication. Note the course and maintain a
wind corrected heading that will track the selected course to the station by crabbing as necessary to keep
the CDI centered.
Indications Of Station Passage
When flying VOR or VOR/DME note when the FROM indication appears in the TO/FROM indicator on the
HSI.
NOTE: To obtain a FROM indication after station passage, you must set the course deviation indicator to
a course that results in a TO indication prior to station passage.
TACAN station passage, due to increased size of the cone of confusion associated with TACAN stations,
is noted when minimum DME is reached.
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